I just picked up a 03 Auto 500 wheeler,and overall it is in pretty good shape.Is there any problems that I should be aware of, any thing that I should keep a eye on,,etc etc.. I know that the choke handle is broke,so that will need fixed. Also,some of the rivets that hold on the fender flares are broke. What kind of oil would be best in this unit,,,I am considering running Amsoil,,,good or bad. Any other pointers would be most helpful,this is my first quad. I have worked weekends most of my life,but due to a career change,,I now have weekends off so I can have some fun with everyone else.

 

congrats on your new purchase, you will have alot of fun with it. Good machine. I would check all the ball joist and tie rods for any excessive play, make sure they are tight. Also i would take off all the body plastic and get a real good look at things. Check frame for any cracks or bends. This way you can also check all hose clamp connections and any other problems that might be hidden by the plastics. Change all fluids and maybe spark plugs. This is a real good site to get help from. Enjoy your new toy. And remember full throttle until you see God then brake..................

 

check the inner tie rod ends they seem to get loose since cat didn't put castle nuts there (M10 1.25 incase you decide to put some on) the choke handle is rather cheap like $5 if I recall correctly and you might wanna get a spare (poor design) I broke two last winter with a very minimal ammount of freezing of the choke cable (my fault I shoulda lubbed them before I started plow season). check out arcticchat a good bunch of guys over there with some good info. Enjoy the new machine, James

 

Where would you guys recommend buying parts,my closest decent cat dealer is 75 miles away,,I will not deal with the one 20 miles away. And yes,the choke is a poor design,,and I did notice today that the inner tie rod ends do seem a tad bit loose. Thanks for the info guys.

 

If you want mail order cat parts try http://www.brownsleisureworld.com/Parts/ the prices are in canadian funds good people to deal with though. Also you might wana try an exhaust mod (either drilling the baffles or removing some) arctic cat has a very rsetrictive exhaust I did 6 3/8 holes through the baffles a jet kit and a snorkle recently and all I can say is that it is a night and day difference. Now I am just gonna get a clutch kit and be good to go.

 

If you don't already live in Canada, you can save yourself a little by NOT using Browns Leisure World. There is a link to Alpha-Sports here on this forum somewhere. They have about the same prices and are State-side.

I didn't know about this place until too late a year ago. Bought about $340 in parts from Browns Leisure World. Ok on price and all, but a few months later I got a bill for like $25 from UPS Supply Chain solution which is like a broker company or something for getting the stuff across the border. Basically it was $25 more that I had to pay that I was never made aware of. And there wasn't any getting out of it.

Alpha Sports will save you from paying this customs charge for crossing out of Canada.

 

This may help on the rivits for the fenders. As to the other parts, Alpha Sports is the way to go state side as the others have said.

http://forums.atvconnection.com/mess...did/452564.cfm

Brent

 

Regarding exhaust mods - The complaints of ATV noise is playing a significant role in the systematic closure of riding areas. County by county the anti-atv groups are making it illegal to ride in the road ditches, many forests – and in some areas – even on private property. Claiming unnecessary nuisance noise we are loosing the battles one after another after another. Public trails and state forests are being closed because of moded exhuast.

Modifying exhaust systems by riders outside of formal competition is contributing to the loss of riding opportunities that thousands of us are fighting with our personal money and time off from work to protect. The camcorder recordings of ATVs and their noise is difficult evidence to argue against.

The question to ask yourself is simple. With mod’ing your exhaust for some minimal 1-2 hp performance increase - Are you being part of the problem or are you being part of the solution? In most cases more noise only makes the ignorant rider "think" they have more power based on what they hear. Real performance increase comes from engineered exhaust "systems" and not a drill.

If we are going to protect our riding oppertunities we have to be smarter than back woods hillbillys without a clue and start policeing our own to protect our priviledge to ride on public property - before its gone.,

Regarding snorkels - It would be wise to check the laws for where you ride. Here in Minnesota riding in ANY public water (swamp, lake, stream, creek, river or ditch) will bring the oppertunity for higher education - where you get to learn more about the legal system and pay a high tuition - and if you even have a snorkel (which will be outlawed if the pending legislation is passed) the fines double.

45.6 (1) $100 for the first offense;
45.7 (2) $500 for the second offense; and
45.8 (3) $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
......
45.15 (e) An off-road vehicle or all-terrain vehicle that is
45.16 equipped with a snorkel device and receives a civil citation
45.17 under this section is subject to twice the penalty amounts in
45.18 paragraphs (b) and (c

Everyone needs to ride as if our enemys are watching and talk as if our enemys are listening. Because they are.

 

hate to say it but noise is the reason I removed the HMF pipe I had on, it was a louder than what I wanted for hunting. Drilling the holes only made a very slight increase in noise (mainly made it sound deeper) alot quiter than the HMF and when I did put the stock back on I put the carb back to original settings (jets and all) and was running the same filter as before the HMF plugs were comming out a little on the white side after wide open bursts so I jumped the main jet again and did a little playing and got it running back to a nice tan color (haven't rode it with the snorkle yet but I am assuming it may be a little more restrictive so I am not sure what is gonna happen) but anyways if you do anything to the exhaust and it requires you to add gas to the equation it must have better flow simple principals to add more gas and get a tan color as compared to a black carbon build up means that after drilling the holes you are able to supply more gas and have it burnt off effciently must have done something. On a further note you wanna talk about noise talk to one of the guys on a two stroke and in NY there is no laws about snorkles simple fact is that up here we have no public access to land so everything a person is aloud to ride on depends on if you know the land owner

 

on my 03 500 i had to replace all the front end bushings they ware out fast.
they are made out of plastic and dont hold up vert good.
try lifting the front end off the ground and check all the A arm bushings and tie rod ends.
like it was said earlyer they come loose often.
i lock tighted mine on and they were fine after that.
and dont go too big with after market tires the axels cant take the strain and will brake i had to replace 4 axels because of my 28" tires.
stick with the stock size tires or 26" max and youll probly never have a problem with axels
or bushings for that matter.
but keep an eye on the tie rods i had mine come loose twice befor i lock tighted them on.
good luck with you new toy.